Neowin.net - Apple and AMD working together, claims senior AMD official

Apple and AMD working together, claims senior AMD official

Posted by NTUsEr on 23 April 2003 - 21:21 · 27 comments & 889 views

Apple and AMD have been working together of late, a senior AMD official admitted at the launch of the chip maker's 64-bit Opteron processor this week. During the press Q&A, the head of AMD's server business, Marty Seyer, said the company had been talking to "all tier one and tier two vendors". Of course, only a few of them have committed themselves to supporting Opteron, leaving the company will its usual base of little known customers, but that's by the by. All tier one and tier two vendors? we wondered, and latter popped the question, "so we can conclude you've been talking to Apple as well then?" Said senior official fell silent for a moment then turned to his PR minder and asked, "Can we talk about what we're doing with them yet?" The answer was a muddy 'not sure... have to get back to on that' kind of thing?

So what can we read into this little interchange? Certainly there have been rumours aplenty in the past concerning Apple's possible migration to the x86 world, and AMD's x86-64 technology - now officially known as 'AMD64', by the way - in particular. We've always found such claims incredible, given the considerable difficulties of managing the migration users and software developers to a new platform.Yes, Apple is a past master at this, witness the 680x0 to PowerPC shift, but don't underestimate the effort involved.

Then again, practical issues, such as the paucity of high-performance PowerPC processors might just tip Apple's hand, forcing the company to take the hard path because it has no choice. With IBM's 64-bit PowerPC 970 coming up, it's hard to imagine Apple feeling such pressure right now. Assuming it does choose to use the 970 - and all the indications are that it will - it will gain a significant speed boost, and an easy migration path to 64-bit computing.

News source: The Reg

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(4 replies) #1 Posted by CoCoLUS on 23 Apr 2003 - 21:52: didn't apple always stand for high qualitiy, high performace components? i mean, this isn't negative at amd nor apple, but seeing the "images" I've got about amd and intel I would rather expect an intel/apple alliance? apple = high price, high quality components intel = high price, high quality components (cpus not overheating, etc.) amd = well... lower price (and thats good!), but not so high quality components (they have, or at least had quite some problems with heat and cpus breaking down in general) so... which of the three would fit together best? CoCoLUS ps: please, don't use this as a place for the usual cpu flame war... we're all sick of it, or atleast I am...

(3 replies) #2 Posted by Darkwolven on 23 Apr 2003 - 21:54: I read a report written from a so called Apple insider last year that stated that OSX has had a branch of the software running and being developed on x86 architechture from day one when OSX started development. Considering the continued strain Apple has had with their chip makers, it is not so surprising. Personally, I would love OSX on x86 so I hope it's true.

#3 Posted by Panorama on 23 Apr 2003 - 21:58: Hm... interesting thought provoking article. AMD and Apple working together... But OSX to x86, dunno, kinda skeptical. Last time someone issued that idea it was a bit... well kinda crazy. Thread: http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...ST&f=60&t=72103

#4 Posted by FuhrerDarqueSyde on 23 Apr 2003 - 22:02: i heard that steve jobs was at an intel press conference giving a keynote speech not long ago so i would assume an intel/apple cooperative effort. However i do think that the comment on AMD procs being fragile and not as high quality are invalid. I have an AMD Athlon XP 1700+ and despite cutting my finger trying to get the damnn heatsink on, it has worked flawlessly in operation

#5 Posted by xdDog_yx2k on 23 Apr 2003 - 22:20: well...i have used to have an AMD Athlon XP 1900+ and had a Intel P4 1.7GHz...i see a performance difference...my amd computer was on a DDR2700 512MB DDR and Intel was on a PC2700 768MB DDR. the AMD seems to run lot faster than the intel...windows xp load lot fast than the on eon intel...and gaming performance...i like the gaming performance on amd...other stuff like making music...video editing..and others...i used to do it on AMD 1900+...and used my Intel P4 1.7GHz as my server cuz i don't actually used that intel alot...so mind as well use it as my server...right now i have MSI KT4 Ultra-FISR, with AMD Athlon XP 2800+ Barton 333FSB...its like really fast...like AMD better. hope it improve their cpu to fast FSB in the near future...I only use MSI KT4...its the best....KT4 will beat nForce2 anytime, anyday...go VIA

#6 Posted by DrunkenMaster on 23 Apr 2003 - 22:58: I saw this on OSNews, this might quell the debate...makes sense. I still doubt Apple -> AMD are going to make AMD64 based computers. Time will tell....... Either: 1) AMD is helping Apple w/ a BIOS for a new MB. They've made one for their Opteron. 2) They're making Falsh memory for Apple. ( AMD is a big flash mem. producer ) 3) More likey, Apple is getting help with Hypertransport technology. Go here http://www.hypertransport.org/ and wait a couple of seconds and look on the right hand side. Apple's logo shows up as a partner.

(4 replies) #7 Posted by dp123 on 23 Apr 2003 - 23:16: Boy, PC fanboys are so ignorant. A few things: no sh1t much of OS X started on x86--it was and is OpenStep. And, yes, Maklar exists. Yes, Steve was at Intel--he spoke of implementing x86 boxes at Pixar. He spoke to the sales force. The post quoted by DrinkenMaster from OSNews is just as erroneous as all your posts--that is, highly.

(2 replies) #8 Posted by longwilli on 23 Apr 2003 - 23:18: In my opinion AMD is a far superior chip to intel, especially when it comes to overclocking. I cant see AMD and APPLE together though, at lest if it is true, for long. there followings with the hardcore pc user who wants to get the fastest by overclocking which you just cant do on an intel processor. and these useers dont use macs

Last edited by 17868 on 24 Apr 2003 - 08:09

(1 reply) #9 Posted by mAcOdIn on 24 Apr 2003 - 04:39: Insurgent I so wanna lay into you, because it's so obviouse the way you write that you think all pc's are some total craptacular virus on what should rightfully be the mac's true kingdom, but I agree with you so I can't. I agree, even if they ever do move over to x86 it will still be proprietary, and only work on certain hardware. It will still be a "Mac" per se, and I won't be able to just go buy the fastest thing out there load OSX and rock on Planetsdie. Not gonna happen. But I think your argument on why there is no Marklar is just as flawed as the argument for Marklars existence. The US Government claims Area 51 doesn't exist, and I can with a shadow of doubt right now that it exists and show it to you on a map. And if you still don't believe me, I'll take some time off and we can drive out there and get turned back by the military, all the while listening about how there's nothing there.

#10 Posted by Mav Phoenix on 24 Apr 2003 - 08:39: This is funny, I hope it happens...

#11 Posted by Wickedkitten on 24 Apr 2003 - 08:48: can't we all just get along [b]When[/b] apple switches to x86 architecture they aren't just going to be using any old x86 chip. The one that they are going to be using will only work on Apple Motherboards, just as how if you wanted to go out and make an apple clone you would have to buy an apple mobo to be able to do it. In other words there won't be any point in getting excited about slapping one into your Asus mobo and being able to run OSX because it's not going to work that way no matter how much you would like to.

#12 Posted by David3k on 24 Apr 2003 - 09:00: Damn apple! remeber, apple is the one who says they invented everything...yeah...right.

#13 Posted by Starcom826 on 24 Apr 2003 - 23:57: Hahahaha, true.

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